Educating Norfolk: EDP launches a week-long series examining the state of education in the county

The EDP is launching a week-long series looking at the state of education in Norfolk. Photo: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

There can be few more important tasks for any community than educating its children.

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There are the cold, hard economic reasons why children need the knowledge and skills to succeed in the world of business and work. In our global world, if they have these, the whole community benefits.

There are also the more intangible, but equally important, needs to create well-adjusted, confident, responsible individuals who can take their place in the society. Again, the whole community benefits.

So when serious and persistent concerns are raised about the standard of education in Norfolk, it must be of vital concern to all of us.

The concerns are not new, but they very real, and they have been growing for some time. That is why the EDP is today launching a week-long series assessing where education in the county stands today, why it matters, what is being done, and what we can learn from elsewhere.

We also want to celebrate the very real bright spots. Every school has committed and hard-working staff who give everything for their pupils, every day. There are many successes, and they have a vital role to play in improving education across Norfolk.

Last year, education in Norfolk took a tough battering, but it was a shock to the system which helped spark a new urgency to efforts to make sure all Norfolk children receive the education they deserve.

An unflinching assessment of where education in Norfolk stands is a vital if we are to improve. So is a warm celebration of success and achievement.

In the coming days, and over the months and years to come, we will continue to provide both.

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1 comment

Perhaps the EDP might look into the dubious role of Ofsted and question the current obsession with academies which don't necessarily provide solutions but do cost a fortune .......good value? I think not. EDP find out about academy brokers? Funding extras at Gt Yarmouth academy? Look at the scores of great non academy schools and National Teaching schools in Norfolk. Really question E Truss. You seem to shut your eyes to all this.